Zack Greinke slated to become first pitcher since 1917 to start in three straight games

Potential suitors sure haven't been hurting for chances to tune in and watch Zack Greinke pitch over the past week.

The Milwaukee Brewers ace is scheduled to start Friday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, making him the first pitcher in almost a century to start for his team in three straight games. Elias says Red Faber was the last pitcher enlisted into such duty, starting three straight games for the White Sox in 1917.

But lest anyone start seeing if Greinke also answers to the name Old Hoss Radbourn, it's worth noting that it took a weird set of circumstances for this to happen.

So it's one of those achievements that really sounds a lot better without further explanation. As for the chances of Greinke being traded before the July 31 deadline, Brewers GM Doug Melvin says he's not engaged in any active trade talks.

Give it time, though: There's a good chance that other front office types are just regaining their bearings after an All-Star break that allowed Greinke to create this headline in the first place. There's no way Melvin's cell phone doesn't start receiving more calls.